My cousin Brandy and I are only months apart. So when she got pregnant in 2002 I was so jealous. We both wanted children and it was exciting she was embarking on her new role as “Mom” (yes and I was still jealous because I couldn’t wait to have a baby myself).
Brandy’s pregnancy seemed like a breeze. She loved salsa and got heartburn but it goes with the territory. Her labor was something ridiculous like pushing for only 30 minutes (you would think I would remember this since I was there in the waiting room of Stanford Hospital). Little Cole was breathtakingly beautiful. All of this dark hair and gorgeous lips, you couldnt help but stare. As Cole’s Godmother I felt so honored, this in turn meant the child had to be showered with gifts…LOTS OF THEM. This would be a theme with Cole and I, lots of prizes.
Six weeks later their families life took a turn for the worst. Cole was diagnosed with leukemia. That boy was such a fighter. He was so tiny yet would stun the Doctors with how well he handled things. On Christmas Day 2002 he started chemo. Brandy said she felt that was a gift to make her little boy well. I spent a lot of time at Stanford Hospital, Tadd and I were even engaged on the Pediatric Oncology ward. I was often impressed not only at Cole’s fighting spirit but how well Brandy managed day after day. Cole passed away 4 years ago today, just shy of his 2 year birthday. Tadd and I were talking about it this weekend. How sad, how tragic, how did they cope? We couldn’t even imagine losing a child. When the twins were born there were many hurdles to overcome but it was different than what Brandy had to face. The babies just had to grow and get stronger. Cole had to fight cancer with horrible odds, trying many different treatments always hoping the next set would make a difference. In the end cancer won and Colie passed away in the early morning hours surrounded by his mom and dad.
Our hearts go out to Cole’s family on this day. To Brandy, Keith, and their two younger children Emma and Andrew we love you.
4 responses so far ↓
1 helen // Jul 29, 2008 at 1:14 pm
he is so cute just like angel.
2 Sarah // Jul 30, 2008 at 2:16 am
The Day Cole was born was one of the most happiest day’s of my life, Dont get me wrong I was thrilled when my 5 other nieces and nephews were born, but Cole was my first I was finally an Auntie you could not have asked for a better little then Colie. I’ll will never stop loving him nor missisng him each day!!!
3 Brandy // Jul 30, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Thank you for the beautiful post about Cole. Of course you were the best god mummy ever! Ohhh.. and it was only 2 pushes.
brandy
4 Cole // Jul 13, 2009 at 11:26 am
[...] have written before about my godson Cole who passed away at 21 months. Cole’s mom, my cousin, Brandy has been active in the Leukemia [...]
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